A devastating fire in Vunivau, Labasa, last Friday night resulted in the total loss of a family’s home, which had been built over 45 years and was valued at approximately $200,000. Prasheel Naicker, 27, reported that his father, grandmother, and uncle were present at the time of the fire, which reportedly started in the family’s prayer room and quickly spread to the roof.
The incident unfolded while Naicker was out in Labasa Town visiting relatives. It was two passersby who first noticed the flames and alerted his family. Despite making two phone calls to the National Fire Authority (NFA) and even rushing to the local fire station to urge a quicker response, Naicker lamented that the NFA’s delayed arrival meant that there was nothing left to salvage from their home. Now, the family is staying with relatives as they cope with this tragic blow.
This fire marks the second significant house fire in the Northern Division in just two weeks, following an earlier incident on New Year’s Day in Waiqele, Labasa, where a home was completely destroyed while the owners were away in New Zealand. This earlier fire, which caused estimated damages of around $250,000, has raised concerns about fire safety and the limitations faced by emergency services in rural regions.
Local authorities, including Acting Divisional Police Commander North, Superintendent Eroni Soqosoqo, confirmed that investigations into both incidents are ongoing. There are ongoing discussions about improving fire safety protocols and resources in rural areas where response times can be hindered by geographical challenges.
The resilience of the affected families has sparked conversations about community support and the need for improved fire safety measures to prevent such tragedies in the future. While the losses faced by families like the Naickers are profound, there is hope that their experiences will lead to changes that enhance fire safety infrastructure and response strategies in their communities.
Leave a comment